About

The Office of Engagement Initiatives:

champions research, curricula and co-curricular activities that are identified, designed and implemented with partner communities

contributes to solutions that overcome some of the world’s biggest challenges

prepares students to become global citizens leading social change

inspires a new generation of teaching, leadership and research at Cornell and beyond

How is our work different from other public engagement at Cornell?

Community-engaged learning is a type of public engagement — one with partnerships and students at its core. In community-engaged learning, community partners are equal players, and projects are created, developed and carried out collaboratively with students from the start.

Public engagement has been central to Cornell’s mission since the university’s founding in 1865. The Office of Engagement Initiatives celebrates this long history and — through a generous gift from the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust — deepens Cornell’s community-engaged activities.

Why is this important?

Community-engaged learning can:

advance disciplinary research in ways that are both rigorous and creative

enhance classroom learning by giving students hands-on, practical experience tackling critical challenges at home and around the world

empower students to become active citizens who practice respect and empathy; seek collaboration, cooperation and creativity; and embrace differences and diversity

further community partners’ missions and goals by harnessing the best of what partners, faculty and students bring to the collaboration